Optimistic Outlook May Influence Cholesterol Levels in Midlife

Middle-aged people with a more optimistic outlook in life had higher levels of high-density lipoproteins and lower triglyceride levels than pessimists, according to a study in the American Journal of Cardiology.

“It is one additional piece of evidence suggesting that our psychological health and physical health are intertwined, and that viewing the world optimistically may have some tangible benefits for our health,” said lead author Julia Boehm, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.